A sensible starter card into a real points program, not a toy loyalty card. Graduate to the Avion Visa Infinite once your credit profile allows it.
Best for: Younger or newer-to-credit applicants who want an entry point into the Avion points ecosystem for a low fee.
Skip if: You already qualify for the standard Avion Visa Infinite — its bigger bonus and higher earn rate outperform this entry tier.
$48 annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $508 · RBC Avion
A well-targeted student card: modest earn, but on exactly the categories a student budget hits, with a redemption a 19-year-old will actually use.
Best for: Students who go to the movies and want simple, immediately-usable points on food and entertainment spend.
Skip if: You'd rather build travel points — Scene+ doesn't transfer anywhere.
No annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $80 · Scene+
Not a rewards play — a credit-building tool with a retail-discount bonus attached. Good for its intended purpose, nothing more.
Best for: Students building first-time credit who want a $0 card plus real retail discounts through SPC.
Skip if: You're not a student, or you already have an established credit history — a standard no-fee cash-back card earns more.
No annual fee · First-year net value ≈ $90 · Cash back
Frequently asked questions
What is the best student credit cards in canada?
RBC ION+ Visa leads this ranking with a Standard Score of 5.8/10. Scotiabank Scene+ Visa Card for Students is the closest runner-up. See the full comparison table above for how every card in this category scores.
How is this ranking put together?
Cards are ranked by the Standard Score — a weighted average of first-year value, ongoing value, redemption flexibility, perk usability, low friction, and strategic fit. The same fixed, published weights apply to every card on this site; see our methodology for the full breakdown.
Does compensation affect this order?
No. Scores are set before any monetization decision, and referral relationships (where they exist) are disclosed separately. A card that pays us nothing can outrank one that does.
What's the best first credit card in Canada?
For most people getting their first card — student or not — the answer is a no-annual-fee card from the ranking above: approval requirements are light, there's no fee to outrun, and every month of on-time payments builds the credit file that unlocks better cards later. Keep utilization low and let the history accumulate; the premium cards will still be there in a year.
Do student cards hurt your credit limit or score later?
No — the opposite. A student card that's paid on time is the cheapest way to build the payment history and account age that later applications are judged on. When you graduate, most issuers let you upgrade the same account rather than closing it, which preserves that history.